The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIf a foreign speaking person works for you and you thank them in their own language...
is it respectful or condescending?
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I think if you say the correct words or phrase, it's a nice thing to do.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Some people might appreciate the gesture, some might be annoyed that you think of them as a foreigner.
Wounded Bear
(58,698 posts)And the general condition of the employer/ee relationship.
Sometimes all you have to do is ask...."Does it bother you when I do that?"
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)My wife is Chinese and she'd be happy if somebody did that. Of course, that doesn't mean it applies to every Chinese person, either.
What pisses her off is if somebody tells her, "your English is a lot better than my Chinese." Her spoken English is generally very understandable, but sometimes she doesn't understand all the idioms, and sometimes has trouble understanding English when it's not spoken with an American accent.
Iggo
(47,564 posts)...I don't think it's a problem.
Aristus
(66,446 posts)She likes it when I greet her in Russian. Especially since she knows I like the language, and am interested in learning more of it.
I don't know why anyone would be offended if someone were to reply in the language spoken, unless the person doing the reply was obviously and intentionally using a parodic form of the language.
For example, a tanker I used to work with in the Army would thank people, not necessarily Hispanic people though, by saying broadly: "Moo-cho grassy-ass, Pedro!"
I'm not Hispanic, but if I was, I would think that was intentionally insulting.